Suitcase lock constbuction



E. H. SHAFFf SUITCASE LOCK CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATQON F ILED JAN- 28. 1919. RENEWED SEPT. 16,492].

1,408,909.' P ente M r: 7, 1922.

/2 Jwuemtoa UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs.

ERNEST H. SHAFF, OF GRAND HAVEN, IVIICHIGAN.

SUITCASE LOCK CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, Ennns'r H. SI-IAFF, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Haven, in the county of Ottawa and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suitcase Lock Constructions; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a suit case lock construction being particularly concerned with novel structural features and combinations of elements in a device of that character whereby the manufacture is simplified and cheapened, and the use of a flat key instead of the usual round key, facilitated and made more practically effective. This application relates to my former application for patent which resulted in United States Patent No. 1,265,534, issued May 7 1918 for suitcase lock.

For an understanding of the invention and the constructions whereby the above enumerated advantages are attained together with many others not at this point specifically enumerated, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the lock.

Fig. 2 is a similar View, the key guide member being removed from the lock.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the lower part of the lock.

Fig. 4- is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the lock case and the dished washer which forms one element of the key guide.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the inner lock mechanism and the retaining housing therefor, the same being located under the lock case in assembled form, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the outer member of the key guide.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views of the drawing.

The lock mechanism is housed within a casing pressed from thin sheet metal, having a rectangular outline as indicated at 1 and formed with a raised middle portion 2 which adjacent its lower end has a relatively large rectangular opening 3 cut Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed January 28, 1919, Serial No. 273,660. Renewed September 16, 1921. Serial'No. 501,148.

therein while a circular opening 4 is formed in the upper part of said raised portion 2 of the case, through which the tongue on the hasp attached to the cover of the suit case may pass in the usual manner to en gage with the locking mechanism of the lock.

The locking mechanism is located in the raised portion 2 of the case resting on and being retained in position by a metal plate 5 which has oppositely projecting ears 6 to pass immediately below the case 1 at each side of the raised portion. 2 thereof. A hole 7 is made in each ear through which inwardly pressed projections 8 of the metal of the case may be inserted and headed over to hold the plate in fixed relation to the case. Any other suitable means of fastening plate 5 in place may be used if desired.

The locln'ng mechanism includes a plate 9 slidably mounted on and above the plate 5 and having portions cut away and pressed inwardly as indicated at 10 to pass and engage with the hasptongue. A leaf spring 11 held at one end between tongues 12 turned up from the plate 5, bears at its free end against the plate 9 tending to force it against the upper end of the retaining plate. A locking bolt 13 formed with a notch let in its lower edge is mounted between turned up. lugs 15 on the locking plate 9 and may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 5 so that one end thereof comes behind the turned in flange 16 on plate 5, thus locking the locking plate 9 against downward movement. The move ment of the locking bolt is performed by engagement of a key with the bolt in the notch 14 thereof.

A key guide and opening covering memher is attached to the lower end of the looking plate 9. It comprises a small housing 17 substantially square in form, from each side of which inwardly extending projections 18 are made which terminate in tangs 19. The projections 18 pass through the opening 3 and engage against the plate 9, the tangs 19 passing through holes 20 made in spaced apart relation in the lower part of the locking late 9, it being apparent that this housing 1 is movable with the locking plate and that it substantially covers the opening 3 in the lock case. A circular 0 ening 21 having a slot extension 22 is ma e in the face of the housing 17 as shown.

Vithin the housing 17, a dished washer 23 is located, the same having a central portion 2% which enters the circular opening 21 in the housing 17. This washer is turned downwardly and outwardly to bear against the front of the raised portion 2 of the lock case and at its outer edges is formed with an annular lip 25 to make a firm bearing irrespective of the position of the washer when-the locking plate 9 is moved. The washer is of suflicient width to pass over the opening 3 and bear firmly against the part 2 at both sides of the opening, this permitting the cutting away of all the metal shown instead of slots merely to pass the extensions 1S and van opening for the passage of the key as usual heretofore, greatly reducin the die cost and the cost of manufacture. 1%

slot 26 is cut in the washer for free passage of the key to actuate the locking be t.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have made improvements in suit case locks which facilitate the employment of flat keys for actuation of the locks and which reduces the manufacturing costs below what they would otherwise be. The structure described is in actual use and has proved particularly satisfactory for the purposes described.

I claim: 1. In a suit case lock, a lock case having a raised middle portion provided with an Y part 0 the outer side of the lock case and provided with inward extensions at each side thereof passing through said opening in the case and secured to the movable locking plate, and a' dished washer located within the housing and also provided with a key passing open- 111g, said washer bearing at its edges against the front face of the lock case both above plate, the passage of the extensions through i the lock case permitting movement of the housing with the lock plate,a dished washer located within the housing and having a raised )ortion entering the upper circular f the opening in the housing; said washer having a slot therein through said raised portion and the adjacent portioii which alines with the slot portion of the opening in the housing and an annular ou'tturned lip at the edges of the washer bearing against the front of the lock case, substantially as described. a

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature ERNEST SHAFF. 

